The new pantheon rankings

Lebron at 2b

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No one not named MJ has played basketball at a level like Lebron has for as long as he has. Throw in all of the playoff lore, he's locked in at #2 all time as of right now if he never played again IMO.

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Lebron is #1 and Jordan is a distant second

Not a chance in hell Jordan could have carried these teams the way Lebron has

Lebron is #2 behind Jordan IMO, and was regardless of whether he had won tonight. No other players have dominated the league with complete all-around games this consistently for this long. Lebron has been the best player in basketball since 2006-2007 and Jordan was the best player from 1986-1987 to 1998. I don't think any other player can claim to being the undisputed best player alive every season for 10+ years.

And Russell is a fringe top 10 player, in fact I would have him just outside the top 10. Top 10 most accomplished absolutely, but he played on by far the best team in a league with few teams, nobody but Wilt to challenge him and to be honest his offensive game was pedestrian given that most post players were not very good at the time. He's one of tGOAT defensive post players but I wouldnt put him over Shaq, Duncan, Wilt, Kareem and possibility Hakeem.

Finally, I cant exclude Oscar. Just too complete of a player for too long to leave out.

1: Jordan
2: Lebron
3: Magic
4: Bird
5: Shaq
6: Wilt
7: Kobe
8: Kareem
9: Duncan
10: Oscar

Jordan
LeBron
Magic
Kareem
Bird

1-5 is easy. 6 and beyond gets difficult... I'd have Wilt and Oscar lower than most. Slightly overrated IMO. Russell and Hakeem higher than most. If it went to 20 or so, I'd want to include guys like Pippen, Bill Walton, Willis Reed, and Maravich just because I feel they are criminally underrated

I love it when powerman talks sports.

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Shaq's prime was at the twilight or post-retirememt of literally every one of those guys

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Shaq was already a top 5 player in the NBA by the end of his second season in 1994, so lets say his prime started in 1995 or so. Ewing, Hakeem, Robinson, Mourning and Malone were all still playing at an All-NBA caliber level at that time, and all but one of Mutumbo's AS appearences came from 1995 on. Duncan's prime began when Shaq was winning titles with the Lakers and extended long past Shaq's prime. Robinson and Mourning played at a very high level until about 2000.

I have no idea what you're talking about.

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Shaq was already a top 5 player in the NBA by the end of his second season in 1994,

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That's quite a stretch

Anyways this a discussion on the definition of prime

Let's look at all NBA selections

8× All-NBA First Team (1998, 2000–2006)
2× All-NBA Second Team (1995, 1999)
4× All-NBA Third Team (1994, 1996, 1997, 2009)

MVP and scoring title in 2000 and of course 3 straight titles from 00-02


like I said this argument centers around definition of prime. I view it as relative to that particular player, not relative to the league. Jordan, LeBron, Kobe were all top All Star tier players in Year 1, yet I don't consider that their primes. Prime is when they are playing the best ball of their particular career.


Shaq had a lot of polish to add to his game that took years. His prime to me goes from late 90s to mid 2000s. Those are the best Shaq years by any measure or observation

I just dont get Russell in the top-5, his actual game film is not that of an all-time top-5 player. 11 rings cant be judged by today's standards.